Koelhuis Dronten has started construction on an additional 4,000 m² cold store. The new facility is designed to store arable crops such as carrots and celeriac and will accommodate 8,200 crates, distributed across ten mechanically cooled cells. This new complex replaces the old ULO cooling facility, which has been completely demolished.
"In addition to our existing modern ULO cold store with 66 cells – offering more than 9 million kilos of storage capacity for pears, apples, and other top fruit – we are expanding again with this mechanically cooled facility. It will partly be used for storing our own products from our farm, but we also offer storage for third parties," says Greeke Robaard-Naber. Together with her husband Aard, she runs an arable and fruit-growing business, and the couple took over the cold store ten years ago.
The new building is once again being constructed by Aannemersbedrijf V.d. Heijkant. Agri Cooling / Ventri Techniek is supplying the new mechanical cooling system, which will be covered by walkways to allow proper monitoring of the stored products. The trusses of the building have already been erected, and Koelhuis Dronten aims to begin operations this summer. "Then the eggs will have to go in," says Greeke, reflecting the wide range of products now stored in the facility. "We have always been a top fruit cooler, and pears still make up the bulk of our business, but we also store garlic, fish, elephant grass, trees, parsnips, flowers, beetroot, planting material, and linseed."
When asked about the biggest challenges, Greeke responds: "Energy costs remain a major concern. With our solar panels, we are now one-third self-sufficient, but the costs remain high. Another challenge is keeping the cells filled year-round, but we've managed quite well so far. September and October are very busy months with the fruit harvest, but deliveries are more evenly spread out throughout the year."
For more information:
Greeke Robaard-Naber
Koelhuis Dronten
Tel: +31 (0) 321-315588
[email protected]
www.koelhuisdronten.nl